Sunday ~ February 19, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 19, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , .

february-18-2017

Happy Sunday!

I have three images for you today and they are all the same two subjects.

Jeanne and I were out driving around yesterday afternoon after running some errands and shopping.  We were driving along the river when we heard a lot of noise coming from a goose somewhere nearby.  We couldn’t see the goose but it was loud.  Then this pair of geese came into our view and one of them (I won’t make a guess as to its gender) was really vocal about something.

february-18-2017-a

The discussion or complaining or directions given continued for a significant period of time.  The partner goose wasn’t saying anything so I’m guessing here, but I’m guessing that goose was the guy. 🙂

february-18-2017-b

Apparently whatever point the complaining goose was trying to make got made because they continued their journey in unison and in peace.

Draw your own conclusions.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Tuesday ~ February 14, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 14, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , .

february-13-2017

Happy Tuesday and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Only one image for today.  I must have a thing for trees and sunsets!  Saw this on the way home and had to grab this image.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Monday ~ February 13, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 13, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , , .

february-12-2017-a

Happy Monday!

If you follow this blog you will remember that I celebrated a momentous birthday on February 8th.  It was a fantastic day and I enjoyed it a great deal.  It was actually one of the best birthdays in memory.

Last night Angie and Ben hosted the “Official Momentous Birthday” dinner at their home and Mark was able to come up and enjoy the evening with us.   I have five images for you today and I would encourage you to read the blog to the end for some exciting news.  🙂

Joshua is a big fan of Star Wars and he received the original trilogy, episodes 4-5-6 for Christmas.  Over the last month we have watched the first two episodes and yesterday we watched episode 6, “Return of The Jedi.”

february-12-2017-d

After the movie we were served a delicious prime rib dinner prepared by Ben and Angie.  It was cooked to perfection.  We also had one of my favorite desserts called “Dirt.”  I can only have a little because it is really bad for me but love it.

february-12-2017-c

Then Angie gave me one of the most wonderful gifts I have every received.  A notebook binder filled with written reflections of my relationships with many of my friends.  I could only read a few because they were so meaningful and thoughtful that I became emotional.  I still haven’t made it all the way through and I have no idea how long it took Angie to put it together but I will cherish it my remaining days.

february-12-2017

Now for the exciting news.  As you can read on Angie’s shirt, “The Fourth is With Us.”  Arriving August 2017.  Angie and Ben have always found interesting ways to tell us they were going to have a child.  So Angie had Josh stand beside her and he revealed his tee-shirt, which had the Star Wars logo on it.  Then she opened her shirt and we saw this.  Yea!!! Grand Pa again.

february-12-2017-b

Finally as if to top of a perfect night I went out on the back patio and saw this wonderful moon.  I have posted many full moon images on this blog, but I never get tired of photographing it.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for listening to me ramble.  Enjoy your day and be careful.

 

 

Sunday ~ February 12, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 12, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , .

february-12-2017-02-10-17

Happy Sunday!

Just one image for you today.   I drive by this tree about once a week and usually say to myself, “I would like to make an image of it.”  The street is busy and there is nowhere nearby to park so I usually just keep going making a mental note to one day take the time.

So last Friday, late afternoon became the time.  The sky was beautiful and I walked a quarter-mile to get the shot.  🙂

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Friday ~ February 10, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 10, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , , .

february-10-2017-02-06-17-a

Happy Friday!

Some of the other birds at Lock & Dam 14 from the other day.  I have 3 images for you today.

I enjoy photographing the gulls that are always present.  I know some of the other photographers at the dam probably wonder about me ripping off 20 shots of a common gull flying by but it is good practice and keeps up your panning technique.  🙂

february-10-2017-02-06-17-b

I am going to have to defer to my friend Andreas, on the identity of this water fowl.  I think it might be a wood duck but I’m no expert on water fowl.  Two of the other photographers there that day both got up close to the bird and took photos of it.  They both asked me what it was and I was of course clueless.  So I don’t feel so bad knowing other photographers don’t always know their species.

february-10-2017-02-06-17-c

This pelican swam past me so close I had to back my focal length off to get him all in the frame.  They are methodical fishers until they find some fish then all hell breaks loose as they get into a feeding frenzy.

That’s all I have for today.  Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Enjoy your day and be careful.

Thursday ~ February 09, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 9, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , , .

february-08-2017

Happy Thursday!

I had one of the best if not the best birthdays in memory yesterday.  Perhaps some of it was just the perspective you associate with it but, all in all it was Great!  One of the highlights was all the birthday greetings from my friends.  They truly made my day!  Friends and their friendship is one of the most important parts of life for me.  Thank you all.

The first thing to greet me when I came to the kitchen for breakfast were these flowers.  Jeanne had set them up the night before complete with a foil Happy Birthday balloon.  Great start to the day.

Since this was a momentous birthday for me (70th) I decided it was only proper to treat myself to a new camera, which just happened to arrive yesterday.  🙂

More about the camera in a later post but it was a momentous one to match the day.

february-08-2017-a

Cloudy and gray skies yesterday morning and the eagles sitting on the frozen pond were pretty far away but I had to grab a shot of them with the new camera.  It really wasn’t configured yet but I had to take the shot.  All things considered they are passable images.

Then I had a wonderful lunch with my Daughter, Gabby, and Austin.  It was so much fun.  I have to tell you that trying to eat with a 18 month old is no easy chore.  Austin is such a sweet young man and a total delight to be with.

february-08-2017-b

Then after a good nap, which is always important,  Jeanne and I went to Josh’s hockey practice, which lasted for an hour.  After that we went to Texas Road House for dinner.  I wanted to stay up and finish configuring my camera but hey, I’m old and I needed to get to bed.  🙂

Anyway it was a fantastic day filled with family and friends.  Three of my friends even called me, which was really special.  The only thing that would have made the day any better was if Mark could have been home.  The good news is that we will all be getting together to officially celebrate the momentous birthday with episode 6 of Star Wars at Angie and Ben’s home.

Sorry to be so much about my day but it was fun.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your day and be careful.

Wednesday ~ February 08, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 8, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

february-06-2017-2a

Happy Wednesday!

I have three images for you today and while they are not images of eagles they are big birds that fly and are fun to watch.  There always seems to be a lot of pelicans at LD #14.  There was only one when I first arrived and he would start by the lock door and float / swim up past the observation platform and then turn around and go back.

More pelicans came as time wore on and soon there were a half-dozen all fishing in the calm water.

february-06-2017-2b

Every once in a while I would notice one of their heads go underwater and he would come up with a fish in his mouth, which quickly disappeared down his throat.  I was never fast enough to capture that moment even though I followed one with my lens for several minutes.

february-06-2017-2c

Two of them came in about the same time and did a simultaneous landing.  Like two jets landing on the same runway.  🙂

That’s it for today.  Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Enjoy your day and be careful.

Tuesday ~ February 07, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 7, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , , .

february-06-2017

Happy Tuesday!

I finally made it to Lock and Dam #14 yesterday.  I left home with high hopes as the sun was shinning but when I arrived at the dam I only saw 4 cars in the parking lot, which told me the eagles were not going to be very active.  That prediction was correct.

I have three images for you today, however most of the action took place father away from the observation platform and so I couldn’t really get any close up shots of the eagles.

february-06-2017-b

I captured this image just before he put his talons in the water.  I was a little early with the shot but he snuck up on me and so it was just a rapid spray of images.  He didn’t get a fish from this effort so I didn’t feel too bad.

february-06-2017-a

I have this image of an eagle that was successful with his fishing but I didn’t get a shot of him with his talons in the water.

I only stayed at the dam for a couple of hours.  Other photographers came after I arrived and left before me.  Even the few diehards were discussing their departure when I packed it in.

The good news is there were other critters to photograph and they were much closer so I’ll hopefully have those for your tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Enjoy your day and be careful.

Monday ~ February 06, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on February 6, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

february-05-2017-a

Happy Monday!

I have three random images for you today that represent a photo trip that Jeanne and I took yesterday afternoon.  Went to all of my usual places and couldn’t find anything worth photographing or at least that caught my interest.

I captured this image because I have never seen someone wearing pink, ice fishing before.  I think that it is interesting that they have a fishing pole in one hand and their phone in the other.  A sign of the times.  🙂

february-05-2017

I have some friends that are in Jamaica right now and they have posted some great pictures of that beautiful place on FB.  I have this little squirrel foraging for food at the Mud Lake Park.  🙂

Obviously I need to get out more.

february-05-2017-b_

Finally I’ll leave you with this image of the Spirit of Dubuque excursion boat.  I have photographed it many times over the years but the way the light was bathing it in the soft yellow glow appealed to me.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Enjoy your day and be careful.